Synopses & Reviews
What happens when an unadventurous adventure writer tries to re-create the original expedition to Machu Picchu?
In 1911, Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and “discovered” Machu Picchu. While history has recast Bingham as a villain who stole both priceless artifacts and credit for finding the great archeological site, Mark Adams set out to retrace the explorer’s perilous path in search of the truth — except he’d written about adventure far more than he’d actually lived it. In fact, he’d never even slept in a tent.
Turn Right at Machu Picchu is Adams’ fascinating and funny account of his journey through some of the world’s most majestic, historic, and remote landscapes guided only by a hard-as-nails Australian survivalist and one nagging question: Just what was Machu Picchu?
Review
"Quite funny and unpretentiously well informed....The perfect way to acknowledge the lost city’s 100th birthday." Christian Science Monitor ("Editor's Choice")
Review
"[An] entirely delightful book." Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post
Review
“An engaging, informative guide to all things Inca.” Entertainment Weekly
Synopsis
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER What happens when an unadventurous adventure writer tries to re-create the original expedition to Machu Picchu?
In 1911, Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and "discovered" Machu Picchu. While history has recast Bingham as a villain who stole both priceless artifacts and credit for finding the great archeological site, Mark Adams set out to retrace the explorer's perilous path in search of the truth--except he'd written about adventure far more than he'd actually lived it. In fact, he'd never even slept in a tent.
Turn Right at Machu Picchu is Adams' fascinating and funny account of his journey through some of the world's most majestic, historic, and remote landscapes guided only by a hard-as-nails Australian survivalist and one nagging question: Just what was Machu Picchu?
About the Author
Mark Adams is the author of the acclaimed history Mr. America, which The Washington Post named a Best Book of 2009. A writer for many national magazines, including GQ, Outside, and National Geographic, he lives near New York City with his wife and children.
Mark Adams on PowellsBooks.Blog
Tip of the Iceberg is a hybrid of travel and history, in which I follow the route of the 1899 Harriman Expedition to Alaska. You may remember a few years ago President Obama went to Alaska and there was a surge of stories about how powerfully Alaska was already being affected by the climate Armageddon that half the country likes to pretend isn’t coming...
Read More»
Exclusive Essay
Read an exclusive essay by Mark Adams